Titanium Valves in SS

[Spyphish]

"The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder."


I totally agree. Was your deal ever taken apart and your technology photographed with a personal cell phone? Which could be lost at the track or placed in the cloud with a single click thanks to Steve Jobs. I had to write a letter to NHRA and my SRAC just to TRY to protect our work. Phish (now that's a pun!!)

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

I'm old enough to have witnessed firsthand the slow, but constant (and continuing) decline of Sportsman racing. It has long been my opinion that the prime cause for it is drag racing's own version of "Creeping Socialism". Years ago, Stockers were essentially stock and Super Stockers were Stockers with bigger back tires and any camshaft you thought would work. Then came the ported heads conflict, where cheaters got caught running at first, acid ported heads, then ground-up and re-welded heads. What was the "punishment"? Make ported heads legal. And a few bucks-down, deep-thinking, do-it-yourself racers (the founders of the sport, BTW) said "I haven't got the money for a ported heads and intake setup" and they quit or went Super Gas racing. Fast forward to 2018, and Stockers are now Super stockers with skinny back tires (like tire width matters anymore anyway, with today's tire compounds), and Super Stockers are Comp cars with small carburetors or funky, stock EFI systems. And still, the same racers who complain that the class racing is dying ask for more and more exotic and expensive technology. "Car counts are way down!" Sure they are; fewer and fewer people have $40,000 for a top-tier SS motor, and no matter how much cash you've got, you can't outspend GM, Ford and Chrysler. The reward used to be, you did your own deal and then put it up against the other guy's deal, to see who was smarter and worked harder. Nowadays, it's just a check-writing contest, with rich guys in golf shirts posing next to their store-bought Super Stock car.

Nothing truer was ever said. And the majority of it all was done to keep a certain few from filing lawsuits against the NHRA.

I don’t believe it was Ray Barton, I think it was the other Hemi engine builder that was looking to get a rule change.

Originally Posted by James L Miller

My engine builder thinks titanium valves is the only way to go in a racing engine. David Reher had an article in National Drugstore giving the virtues of a titanium valve. Higher initial cost, but longer engine life. I think Ray Barton tried to implement a movement to get NHRA to make these legal for SS. Who would have enough clout with NHRA to get it legalized for SS? Does Del West need to put up a ton of money for Ti valves, or Manley, Ferrea??? Is there a lobby firm near Glendora that makes these changes happen? Who would we need to make the check payable?

[James L Miller]

OK, thanks for the input. I'm semi retired and don't have a lot of cash. But, if it would save money in the long run (like the carnage that Spyfish posted), then I'd cough up the money to get it done. Maybe it was another Hemi engine builder (sort of forgot his name, Walcott?).

[nhramnl]

[QUOTE=James L Miller;556319]OK, thanks for the input. I'm semi retired and don't have a lot of cash. But, if it would save money in the long run (like the carnage that Spyfish posted), then I'd cough up the money to get it done. Maybe it was another Hemi engine builder (sort of forgot his name, Walcott?).[/QUOTE/]



That's OK; most everybody has forgotten his name. His 15 minutes of fame ended a long time ago.

[SSDiv6]

Titanium Valves are allowed in Super Stock Class as a replacement for Sodium filled valves as long as the weight the same or more than the Sodium filled valve they are replacing.

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Titanium Valves are allowed in Super Stock Class as a replacement for Sodium filled valves as long as the weight the same or more than the Sodium filled valve they are replacing.

While that was true once upon a time, that allowance was rescinded a long time ago IIRC. Quote from the engine section of the rulebook for SS: "Any aftermarket steel valve permitted; must maintain stock head and stem size; titanium valves prohibited."

[340Cuda]

[QUOTE=nhramnl;556322]

Originally Posted by James L Miller

OK, thanks for the input. I'm semi retired and don't have a lot of cash. But, if it would save money in the long run (like the carnage that Spyfish posted), then I'd cough up the money to get it done. Maybe it was another Hemi engine builder (sort of forgot his name, Walcott?).[/QUOTE/]

That's OK; most everybody has forgotten his name. His 15 minutes of fame ended a long time ago.

He seems to be prospering in his anonymity and I am sure could give a crap about what any of us here think. One of a kind...

[nhramnl]

No disagreement with anything you say. I actually like him, and always have. Brilliantly talented, and as you state, totally one of a kind.

[SSGT Mustang]

[QUOTE=340Cuda;556335]

Originally Posted by nhramnl

He seems to be prospering in his anonymity and I am sure could give a crap about what any of us here think. One of a kind...

Hit the nail on the head. Wescott has a great business and can show up anytime in SS or comp and kick ***. I'm sure that he'll do well in Pro Stock when he's ready to play for real.